Abstract

A regular way to produce samples for alpha-spectrometry and other nuclear emissions could be by means of electrodeposition. Uranium electrodeposition may also be used to fabricate irradiation targets for radiopharmaceutical production. In this work, the electrodeposition of natural uranium was made by pulsed potential in galvanostatic state over nickel substrate, having a cathodic area of 2 cm2. The samples have been exposed to UO2(NO3)2 acidic concentrated solution diluted 1:20 in 2-propanol, having final concentration at 50 mM [U] with pH<1. The pulsed potential varied between two levels, from 0 V to −10 V and from 0 V to −15 V, inside a tubular electrochemical cell made of quartz. The pulsed electrodeposition had a rectangular potential wave with duty cycle of 75% and a frequency of 25 Hz, with a constant duration of 1400 s. The higher alpha emission activity that was obtained from the oxide/hydroxide electrodeposit reached the level of 30 Bq/cm2 for a cathodic potential polarization at 0V/-15V during 1400 s of pulsed electrodeposition. Explanation of uranium electrodeposition at lower pHs was based on potential migration of polarity at the cathode during pulsing potential, allowing production of OH- and nascent oxygen in anodic microregions.

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